Suicide Mission into the Gork Mountains
“Your Grace, executing the plan now is far too dangerous.”
At Duke Abiel's residence.
Colonel Crasis from the Reconnaissance Command had come in person to dissuade Duke Abiel herself.
“What on earth do you mean, barging in here out of the blue?”
“Intelligence Agency teams are currently scouring the cities around the Gork Mountains. They've caught the scent.”
No matter how covertly the Intelligence Agency operated, after a month of intense activity, traces were bound to linger.
“So what? They won't find anything anyway.”
Duke Abiel was confident that even the sharpest eyes couldn't pinpoint the lab's location through a mere search. She'd anticipated this exact scenario and built it in the most secretive spot imaginable.
“Entry into the Gork Mountains has tighter security than before. Moving something as massive as that stele right now is impossible.”
The reason Colonel Crasis was pushing back so hard? Duke Abiel had just set the operation's launch date for two days from now.
“Colonel, the mountains are vast. Does it make sense to say we can't do it just because security's beefed up a bit?”
“The accessible zones are limited. Wait until the enemy quiets down a little.”
Colonel Crasis wasn't opposing the operation itself.
Just the timing.
And anyone could see now wasn't it.
“Sigh, Colonel. You think waiting makes it safe? No. Every day we delay, the stele's value diminishes. Don't you get that?”
“Pardon...? What do you mean by that?”
The value of a magic tool forged with astronomical sums and the empire's finest minds—vanishing?
It was incomprehensible.
“You know Orpia Abiel is working for the Lycan Empire now, right?”
“Yes, I'm aware.”
Orpia Abiel, a branch family member adopted as a foster daughter for her genius.
Hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy in academic circles. But those in the know understood the truth.
She was the product of Serendia Abiel's human experiments.
Dozens of predecessors lost their heads when she was snatched away back then.
Fifteen years ago, the Intelligence Agency raid on the Abiel lab.
Most data was destroyed, but what enraged the duke most was Orpia's disappearance.
“With her there and the circuit in their hands, they'll crack it in half a year at latest.”
“Half a year? That's just paranoia.”
Half a year was barely enough to craft a simple magic circuit.
Cracking a colossal one after over a decade of research? Even an elf couldn't manage it, Colonel Crasis was certain.
“Paranoia? Your complacent ignorance—strutting around without a clue—is what's dragging the empire toward defeat. Pathetic.”
Colonel Crasis's face hardened at the duke's biting scorn.
“If I say it's possible, it is. If I stake my head—and yours and the high command's—on it, would you delay? Might as well purge the Reconnaissance Command while we're at it.”
Recent blunders had tanked the Reconnaissance Command's credibility.
Calls for accountability were rising. One more screw-up, and it was over.
“Is this Orpia woman really that capable?”
“How many times must I say it?”
Duke Abiel stared at Colonel Crasis with utter disdain.
“Understood. We'll do everything to proceed as planned.”
“Do it right this time. I'm too old for more disappointments and rage.”
Despite her youthful appearance—thanks to vast investments—Duke Abiel was over fifty now.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
To survive this knife-edge moment.
Colonel Crasis bowed his head and withdrew.
“You're here? It's been a while.”
2 p.m.
Right on time, I entered the Intelligence Agency base, and Major Orpia greeted me.
What the hell happened to her?
Her hair was a mess compared to last time, and she'd dropped at least ten kilos. She looked like a total wreck.
“Busy with work, I take it.”
“Had some stuff to handle. But I showered this morning, so no smell.”
“Wasn't thinking that.”
“Good. Let's go. Everyone's waiting.”
She led me underground.
“Who exactly is waiting...? Major Eden, by chance?”
The guy who popped up out of nowhere every damn time.
Felt like he'd show again.
“Huh? Oh, Eden was top pick, but he's on another op. Couldn't call him.”
Her voice held regret.
Unlike her, I was fighting a grin.
I'm saved. Saved!
Anyone from Intelligence was fine.
No one could grind me harder than that bastard.
“So, what's this about?”
“I'll explain inside. Come on.”
At the end of the dim underground passage, a heavy door.
Major Orpia shoved it open, revealing a spacious room.
“That's...”
“Yeah, the fragment you sent. Restored it. What do you think?”
Dead center: a massive blue rock.
It's all mana stone, for real.
The circuits etched on its surface were a work of art.
“Oh! Lieutenant, long time no see!”
As I stared, mesmerized, an unbelievable voice hit my left ear.
“Pardon...?”
“Shocked when you vanished without a word. Never thought you'd be starring here. As expected from an extraordinary guy.”
“N-no, Major Garen, sir? How are you here?”
Major Garen from Special Forces.
His hand clamped my shoulder.
Fuck, this a dream?
Had to be.
Unfortunately, harsh reality.
“Got the support request. We collab with Intelligence sometimes. No one pushes through with brute force like us Special Forces.”
Intelligence and Special Forces team-up? And out of everyone, Garen?
What insane odds were these?
“I... see.”
“Haven't heard details, but seems critical. Let's crush it together! Haha!”
Thud thud!
Garen laughed, slapping my back like we'd won the war already.
But it didn't end there.
“Hm? Hold up, you look buffer.”
Suddenly, his eyes scanned me head to toe.
That gaze spelled doom.
“H-haha? Just busier, built some muscle.”
“Can't pass without a spar now, can we?”
What the hell wasn't passing?
My brain couldn't process it.
“Alright, catch up later. No time—briefing first.”
As I pondered escape, Major Orpia mercifully intervened.
“Ahem. Understood. Everyone, gather round Major Orpia.”
Special Forces troops formed a circle around the center.
About twenty, give or take.
A few familiar faces, but no Derek.
“First, thanks to Special Forces Command for supporting this op.”
“No need. Duty to the empire.”
Garen replied as their rep.
“You've seen the docs, but Aditz Empire's magic tool in the mountains is corrupting monsters' minds, sending them at our lands.”
“These devilish bastards.”
“Can't win fair, so they cheat. Makes my blood boil.”
The Special Forces vets reacted fiercely.
I felt the same, minus saying it aloud.
These petty shits.
They knew they couldn't beat us head-on.
“Luckily, we captured one. Used it to craft a tracking tool.”
She held up a bowling-ball-sized orb, its surface crammed with eye-straining circuits.
“Mission: Take this into the mountains and destroy the Aditz devices directly.”
Directly destroy? Most straightforward... Wait, the fuck? Into the mountains?
Thought I misheard, but my ears were fine.
“High-risk, but necessary. That's why Intelligence's best are here.”
She glanced at me.
No. Hell no.
She was deluded. I wasn't elite.
“Looks solid. We picked monster-fight vets too.”
Garen nodded; Orpia approved.
“Thanks. Briefing continues.”
Her baton tapped the map on the table.
“Enemy devices have limited range. Based on that...”
The baton dotted spots across the Gork Mountains.
“These are my estimated locations.”
“More than expected.”
Seven spots she'd marked, scattered far. Would take time.
“They're spread like a web—lots of effort on their part. Probably a week.”
Multiple life-risking mountain treks?
Was this sane?
“Even riskier than I thought.”
Garen stroked his chin, troubled.
Yes! Smarten up!
Scrap this madness, please.
“True. But leave them, monsters keep coming. Empire's losses mount.”
Couldn't argue logic.
Didn't mean dive into Gork Mountains.
Come on, think of a better way.
Hoped for a rethink, but the cruel world never backed me at crunch time.
“Got it. They snuck in to plant them, right?”
“Yes.”
“If they did it, we can. Let's go.”
Garen, danger be damned, yelling "let's roll."
I was the fool for trusting him even briefly.
Fucked. Truly fucked.
We were properly screwed.